Axo Alpha runs student buildathons and a zero-equity accelerator for ventures in disability, neurodivergence, caregiving, and diagnostics. We help people whose bodies and minds work differently thrive by building better systems around them, not by correcting their differences.
2 Billion
people live with a disability, not including the caregivers who support them.
more than 500
students from 35 schools at a Babson pilot buildathon.
less than 1 percent
of venture capital goes to disability tech, leaving founders without a path.
Esteemed Leaders
Exited founders, experienced operators, and educators, including leaders with disabilities.
A LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The axolotl is a creature few people know about. However, once you learn about it, it's hard to forget. It faces long odds in the wild, it keeps going, and it can regrow lost limbs, organs, and even parts of its own brain. We named Axo Alpha after it because it shows how much recovery and growth is possible when the conditions are right.
More than two billion people live with a disability, and many more care for someone who does. Coming waves of aging populations and neurodivergent children are being met by extreme shortages of workers, caregivers, and practitioners. As AI and hardware costs come down, technology is the only thing that can fill this gap. However, less than one percent of venture capital goes to companies building here. The talent to address these needs exists and the tech is more accessible than ever. What's missing is an early path into this work, and real support for the founders who choose it.
A pilot buildathon at Babson drew more than 500 students from 35 schools. Many of them had never thought of disability as a market, and over half of them ultimately built accessible tech. They were inspired by a brother with Autism, a friend who was blind, an aging grandparent with mobility issues. With 1 in 4 people having a disability, many of the students built for themselves. After the event we kept working with the most committed teams, and we saw how quickly an introduction to this space can turn into a lasting interest. The pioneers of tomorrow, encouraged today.
Axo Alpha is built to repeat that on campuses around the world, and to help the most promising founders grow companies that mainstream investors take seriously. Our work starts from respect for how people's minds and bodies already work. We focus on building better systems around them.
If this work matters to you, I'd welcome a conversation.
Rich Palmer
Executive Director, Axo Alpha
GOAL AND THEORY OF CHANGE
Buildathons spark students early and grow a pipeline of builders who understand this space. The accelerator jump-starts early companies with the mentors, know-how, and access they need to become venture-ready.
THREE-YEAR TARGETS, 2027 TO 2029, REPORTED ANNUALLY
more than 5,000
students reached
more than 40
ventures formed or advanced
more than 40
accelerator graduates
more than $25M
follow-on capital raised
more than 50 percent
of accelerator companies with a leader who has lived experience
WHY NOW
Students can build a working product in 48 hours. Personalized support now costs a fraction of what it did.
1 in 6 people worldwide live with a significant disability, and an estimated 1 in 5 are neurodivergent. By 2030, 1 in 6 people will be 60 or older, and half of them will have a disability.
The world faces a shortfall of 11 million health workers by 2030. Unpaid caregiving keeps 708 million women out of the workforce.
Specialized accelerators are pulling back, and generalist programs rarely serve these founders despite taking considerable equity.
World leaders, corporations, and foundations are eager to see solutions that create both financial and societal impact.
OUR PROGRAMS
THE BUILDATHON
48 hours on a university campus. Teams of 3 to 5 build software or hardware across themes like mobility, mental health, aging, education, and women's health. Teams get paid feedback from people with disabilities, top mentors, AI credits, and a $25K prize pool.
THE ACCELERATOR
A 12-week program for 15 early-stage companies, run with a specialized accelerator partner. Founders get curated mentors, end-user feedback, pilot introductions, and a demo day built to draw mainstream venture capital.
GLOBAL IMPACT
7
Addressed by disability innovation.
LONGEVITY
9.6 years
the average time people spend living with disability at the end of life.
Global average across 183 countries. In the US it is 12.4 years and rising, despite billions spent on longevity.
WOMEN'S HEALTH
$1 trillion
added to the global economy each year by 2040 if we close the women's health gap.
The sandwich generation falls heaviest on women caring for children and adults with disabilities.
Fund a buildathon, a prize, or an accelerator cohort, or introduce us to a university that could host one.
Get involved